Sumo hit by match-fixing claims

Tuesday 30 September 2008 03.12 EDT
First published on Tuesday 30 September 2008 03.12 EDT

A sumo wrestler who was banned for life after allegedly smoking marijuana stunned the ancient sport again yesterday with accusations that he had been forced to throw bouts in exchange for cash.

"I was forced to accept money and put in unfair bouts," said Russian-born Wakanoho, who is suing the Japan sumo association in an attempt to rescue his career.

"If I refused I was bullied. I want to make the sumo world clean again."

The association is suing Shukan Gendai, a weekly magazine, for defamation after it printed allegations of match-fixing last year.

The sport is also reeling from revelations of widespread physical abuse following the death last year of a teenage recruit who had been badly beaten by other wrestlers on the orders of their coach.

Wakanoho, one of three Russian wrestlers to have been expelled for alleged drug use in the past few weeks, said he would give more details about modern sumo's malaise when he testifies in court on behalf of Shukan Gendai later this week.

The 20-year-old, whose real name is Soslan Gagloev, denied smoking marijuana after a cigarette containing the drug was found in his wallet last month, but said others in the sumo world indulged with impunity.

"As far as marijuana is concerned, the bosses and wrestlers who are smoking it are not being punished," he said.